Position of Anakpawis National Political Party on various regional, national, and international issues

Saturday, November 26, 2005

NR1126:Garcillano should not be allowed to hide behind wire-tapping law

From the Office of Anakpawis Rep. Crispin BeltranNews Release November 26, 2005

Garcillano should not be allowed to hide behind wire-tapping law

Anakpawis Rep. Crispin Beltran today said that former Comelec Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano's continuing refusal to surface and make a public accounting for his supposed role in massive electoral fraud in May 2004 should be held in contempt. "Garcillano is guilty of obstructing justice. As an employee of the govenrment, he has the rensposibility to give explanations regarding the various allegations and accusations against his office and even his person," he said.

"Garcillano is acting very much like a prima donna and this is beginning to grate on everyone's nerevs. He has caused enough trouble and his continuing coyness about surfacing and giving his testimony regarding the contents of the Hello, Garci tapes should not be tolerated one minute more."

The veteran labor leader turned legislator said that either the Department of Justice or the Supreme Court should issue a subpoena and arrest warrant for Garcillano. "It's also quite curious that the DOJ and the SC remain relatively quiet on this matter. They're allowing Garcillano to play hide-and-seek at the public's expense. For months Garcillano along with one of his text and call-mates Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has been at the center of the political storm, and his disappearance has created so many roadblocks in the search for the truth behind what really happened in May 2004.He should be arrested immediately and compelled to give his account of the tapes."

"DOJ secretary Gonzales is curiously mum and seems to have no will at all to go after a most wanted fugitive from justice which is what Garcillano is. Malacanang has most likely given orders to let Garcillano run around free - even under the very noses of the PNP, the DOJ and the SC," he said.

Beltran said that Garcillano's refusal to speak on his taped conversations with Arroyo and other politicians on the grounds that it was against the wire-tapping law all the more compounds his crimes.

"Wire-tapping law or not, if Garcillano really wants to clear his name and reputation he should account for the controversial contents of the tape. He cannot be allowed to hide behind the wire-tapping law and evade the greater issue: massive electoral fraud he allegedly perpetrated on behalf of Macapagal-Arroyo and members of her slate," he said. #